Minister of State for Education, Yussuf Sununu, has clarified that there is no age limit for candidates taking secondary school exams like West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) exams.
Gatekeepers News reports that he made this statement during the International Literacy Day ministerial briefing in Abuja on Friday.
Sununu said, “The public misconceived and misinterpreted what was said by Prof. Mamman. The minister was speaking on the 18 years of entry age into the tertiary institutions which will begin in 2025.”
He also stated that exceptions may be made for underage students applying to federal higher institutions if they are considered exceptional, based on criteria currently being developed by the ministry.
This clarification comes after the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, had announced that individuals under 18 years would no longer be allowed to take part in WAEC and NECO exams. The announcement had generated widespread criticism from Nigerians.
Sununu’s statement has provided clarity on the issue, emphasizing that there is no age limit for secondary school exams, but rather an age requirement for entry into tertiary institutions starting in 2025.
“Nobody among the two of us stated anything about age foe WAEC, NECO examinations, that was not mentioned.
“But people just implied to say that this is what it means. All we mentioned is about age of entry or admission into the university,” Sununu said.
